In addition to directing the company's open-wheel programs, Speyer (pictured at right) also directed its motorcycle and karting activities, managing all aspects of the company's motorsports activities.

Al Speyer, executive director of motorsports at Bridgestone Americas, will retire next year, ending a 38-year career with Bridgestone and Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.

Speyer began his tire industry career in 1974 with Firestone Tire. By the early 1980s he was firmly ensconced in the firm's motorsports department, where he went on to work in a variety of racing competition, from stock cars to sports cars, drag racing, Formula 1 and IndyCar.

Among his more notable achievements was overseeing the company's return to top-flight motorsports in 1996 after a 20-year hiatus. He was tapped that year to manage the return of the Firestone brand to open-wheel racing (the Indy Racing League).

"Al Speyer was instrumental in managing our motorsports programs for the past 30 years," said Phillip Dobbs, chief marketing officer, Consumer Tire Sales division, Bridgestone Americas. "When we began supporting the Indy Racing League again in 1996, Al helped lead Firestone back to a premier position in IndyCar Racing.”

In 1992, shortly after Bridgestone Corp. acquired Firestone, Speyer was named manager of motorsports for Bridgestone/Firestone, the merged company's North American entity. The following year, the company announced it would end its 20-year hiatus from the top forms of open-wheel racing.

Speyer was promoted to director of motorsports at that time, and in 2001 was named executive director of motorsports. In addition to directing the company's open-wheel programs, he also directed its motorcycle and karting activities, managing all aspects of the company's motorsports activities, including marketing and promotional activities.